Student Handbook - Hoosic Valley Central School

prevention and response strategies.
The Dignity Act Coordinator is expected to:
1. Promote a school environment that fosters respect, tolerance, civility, character and
dignity.
2. Ensure availability for students and families to have the opportunity to communicate with
the DAC.
3. Promptly investigate issues of discrimination and harassment.
4. Initiate conferences with parents, teachers, and students as necessary.
5. Provide reasonable and fair intervention methods and/or disciplinary consequences in a
timely manner.
6. Assist students in building coping and conflict resolution skills.
7. Serve as a “student advocate” when necessary or when deemed appropriate.
8. Ensure staff training to promote a positive school environment free from discrimination
and to discourage and respond to incidents of discrimination or harassment.
9. Ensure implementation and practice of anti-bullying, harassment, non-discrimination and
school environment policies.
I. Dignity Act Building Reps
The DAC and Superintendent have designated Building Reps to accept report of,
investigate and remedy reported incidents of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and
cyberbullying, and work with students and families to stop future incidents from occurring.
Building Reps are required to submit all reports and investigations in writing to the DAC.
Elementary Building Reps
Mark Foti, Principal
Beth McQueeney, Guidance Counselor
Lisa Waldron, School Psychologist
MS/HS Building Reps
Jillian Simpson, Dean of Students
Becky Kellerhouse, Guidance Counselor
Joel Beecroft, Guidance Counselor
Joann Kehn, School Psychologist
Building Reps are designated to conduct investigations of reported instances of
bullying and harassment. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, cyberbullying and sexting
can be reported to any faculty or staff member. Faculty and staff are required to report
such incidents to a Building Rep or the DAC.
V. Dignity for All Students Act
It is the policy of the State of New York, as set forth in the Dignity for All Students Act
(“DASA”) as well as federal civil rights statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and all subsequent amendments, to afford all
students in public schools an environment free from discrimination and harassment.
In order to foster an environment which promotes and supports students’ ability to learn
and to meet high academic standards in the Hoosic Valley Central School District, the Board of
Education is dedicated to ensuring the District promptly addresses any conduct, on or off school
property, including electronic or Internet content, which negatively impacts or has the potential
to negatively impact a students learning environment, which is inconsistent with the District’s
educational mission or which detracts from a healthy and positive school climate, including
discriminatory or harassing behaviors as defined by the Dignity for All Students Act or related
federal civil rights statutes set forth above. The Board of Education is committed to providing all
its students with an environment free from discrimination and harassment and shall take steps
to prevent harassment and discriminatory behaviors through educational measures designed to
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Hoosic Valley Central School District